Investigating Color in Watercolor Painting

Investigating Color in Watercolor Painting

Adult Workshop | Registration opens 2/19/2025 8:00 PM EST

Adult all levels
4/19/2025 (one day)
10:00 AM-3:00 PM EST on Sat
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$70.00
$63.00

Investigating Color in Watercolor Painting

Adult Workshop | Registration opens 2/19/2025 8:00 PM EST

We will begin with a short easy to understand overview of color theory for painters, and proceed to paint from either your choice of Still Life set up or photo reference in the studio. We will explore soothing and dynamic color choices and ways to get rich saturated colors without creating "mud". 

This class is for anyone painting in watercolor; even beginners and those who have been painting for a while who want more information about color, value and how to use color more effectively in their work.

  • Materials List

    Investigating Color Interaction in Watercolor Painting

    For this class the instructor will be bringing extra student brushes, watercolor papers, and some student grade paint. Please bring your own paint if you already have it as you will want to get used to using and mixing your own colors. We will work on creating saturated colors all paint will work so don’t worry if you have beginner grade paint! Start with what you have, it doesn’t matter if you have pans or tubes, bring it along. Watercolor or gouache is fine, you can use both if you wish.

    A set of Watercolor pan paints.

    Artist Loft brand (Michael’s store brand) watercolor pan sets that are fine for our class and very reasonably priced.

    Better if you already paint and just a little more expensive…

    Sonnet Watercolors – 24 color set – very nice reasonably priced Amazon

    Caran D’ache – Gouche Studio – Very nice – also on Amazon

    If you like Gouche paint I also like the

    Gansai Tambi which are available through Jerry’s Artarama and I believe also through Amazon. They are much more opaque and very creamy. They are truly beautiful colors and somewhere between transparent watercolor and acrylic.

    If you have watercolors already – just bring what you already have, if you have tube watercolors, those are fine please feel free to use what you have already.


    A large container for water A large container means you need to change your water less often. Keep your water clean, you cannot get beautiful color with dirty water ( Yogurt containers are great 1 qt size)

    Paper Towels - Keep a paper towel handy when working, baby wipes are also helpful

    Palette I suggest a plain white dish or white paper plate to mix color.

    OPTIONAL THINGS FOR CLASS

    A Work Surface and blue painters tape. Blue Paint tape and a piece of cardboard or a drawing board, larger than your paper are very helpful. You may choose to tape your edges to a board to avoid buckling –blue painters tape is best, and a heavy piece of cardboard or drawing board is nice to work on. You can forgo the board and tape if you don’t have it.

    A Spray bottle with Water

    Nice to have to “wake up” your colors and for other painting effects. It’s important to spray your water to reactivate them. Remember that the paint is the puddle you make in the pan or palette not the pan itself or what comes out of the tube.

    INSTRUCTOR WILL HAVE

    Pencils

    Watercolor Paper

    Extra student grade watercolors

    BRING REFERENCE PHOTOS YOU HAVE TAKEN OR ONES YOU WISH TO WORK FROM

    WE WILL ALSO SET UP A STILL LIFE TO WORK FROM

    See you in class!

Marcy LaBella

MARCY LABELLA studied art at SCSU and works in the mediums of mixed media painting, clay and metals. Her work in all three mediums has been included in regional and nationally juried shows. She is a key member of the Wesleyan Potters in Middletown, CT and a member of The Connecticut Women Artists. She is a teaching artist at the New Britain Museum of American Art, New Britain, CT, and on the faculty at Wesleyan Potters, Middletown, CT and at the Guilford Art Center. She is represented by the Wesleyan Potters Gallery Shop and the Shop at Guilford Art Center.